Share this with

Ben Kay is reminiscing on English rugby’s finest hour, when the World Cup-winning lock suddenly reveals: ‘I’ve never actually watched it.’

‘Maybe when I’m older,’ he adds. ‘I’ve seen little clips, often at various corporate dinners – usually of Jonny Wilkinson’s winning drop-goal – but the whole thing in its entirety? – I’ve never got round to it.’

We’re not discussing another steady club performance from the former Leicester battler here – a Premiership final, a Grand Slam decider, even a 2005 British & Irish Lions Test cap.

‘Over there it was a 9pm kick-off to fit in with Australia TV, so it was a long build-up on the day.

‘And yes, I can remember making a fool of myself in front of the watching millions! [Kay agonisingly dropped Matt Dawson’s pass with the try-line at his mercy in the first half].

‘Although Australia sent the game into extra-time I always felt we’d do it. We just had to get into a position for Jonny’s winning drop-goal.

‘The final whistle was a massive relief more than anything. We’d been labelled favourites and in the end we had the belief to get the job done.’

What about [coach] Woodward – did he make the difference?

‘He had great man-management and was a tremendous facilitator. He inherited a fairly decent side, to be fair, with many established internationals but he created a framework in which we worked towards the ultimate goal.

‘There some big characters in that team and Clive was happy to let them have a say and take responsibility.’

The England lads partied long into the night in Sydney after the final, but Kay admits: ‘To be honest I was so shattered after the match I didn’t last as long as some of the others.

‘It didn’t really hit home until we arrived at Heathrow. It was 4.30 in the morning and hundreds greeting us.

Advertisement

Advertisement

‘We didn’t know what to expect for the open top bus ride, either. At Marble Arch the streets were pretty empty and we were thinking this could get very embarrassing. But then we turned the corner and there thousands on the streets, it was an incredible.’

Now, to mark the anniversary of that famous night, England’s veterans are dusting off their boots for a rematch against their Wallaby rivals at Harlequins’ Stoop ground on October 31.

‘The Aussies will be looking for revenge and I’ve heard our boys are taking it seriously,’ Kay adds.

‘I’ve played in some of these veteran games before and it’s full on. Hopefully, we can beat them again, which would be quite funny.’

Jason Robinson scored England’s only try in the final to help build a 14-5 half-time lead. And the flying cross-code winger, now 39, admits he can still remember that moment like it was yesterday.

‘A lot of work went into that try – the forwards setting the platform before Lawrence Dallaglio burst into the line, fed inside to Jonny Wilkinson who then passed out for me to score in the corner- what a feeling,’ he told Metro.

‘That feeling will never leave me. When I’m old I’ll always know I scored in a World Cup final – not many players get the opportunity to do that but the main thing is we won the game.

Advertisement

‘I don’t know how we would have reacted if we hadn’t done it, it would have been just devastating. It was such a huge weight off our shoulders, such a relief after all the hype, all those big wins against the Aussies and New Zealand in the year leading up to it.

That feeling will never leave me. When I’m old I’ll always know I scored in a World Cup final – not many players get the opportunity to do that but the main thing is we won the game

‘We actually produced it when it mattered. The chance to play in a World Cup was why I switched from rugby league to union in the first place and there we were in the final and world champions.

‘I never doubted us for a minute, even in extra-time. It was certainly a massive boost for the game of rugby in this country. The Australians are very proud people so to go over there and win it in their backyard was a great achievement.’

RICHARD HILL – flanker:

‘When you’re growing up there’s always an opportunity to watch England play on TV and to listen to the national anthem. Then to actually go through those experiences as a player is phenomenal, but to do it in a World Cup final is extra special. There was the nerves and anticipation, that fear of “could I be the one that does something great today?” or “could I be doing something that costs the team” So it was actually relief as well as pure elation.

Advertisement

JASON LEONARD – England’s most capped player and replacement prop:

‘It wasn’t glitzy; we didn’t get too carried away with anything. We just went out there to win it and that’s what we did. When you are on the other side of the world we knew there was support for us but you didn’t realise just how much. When we got home we saw just how much they wanted to show that support for us, so it was absolutely breathtaking.

DAVID LAMBERT, Essex, – England fan, in Sydney’s Telstra stadium:

The atmosphere was electric, the best I’ve ever experienced at a sporting event. It was tense, but we all believed we’d do it. Afterwards, Sydney was all red and white. The best night ever.’

Jason Robinson dives over for England’s solitary try in the World Cup final against Australia (Picture: Getty)

Metro readers can win a legendary experience for two at the 2003 World Cup rematch, brought to you by official match Sponsor Heathrow Express,which includes tickets, entry into the post match bar, tour of the players’ changing rooms, a photo with both team captains, a signed shirt from each team and a replica match ball as memorabilia of your day. To enter, go to www.heathrowexpress.com/2003 For ticket sales www.quins.co.uk/tickets

The England legends v Australia legends match will raise funds for Restart – the official charity of The Rugby Players Association (RPA) which supports professional players forced to retire through illness or injury www.restartrugby.org.uk and the Injured Players Foundation, which provides immediate and lifelong support for all seriously injured rugby union players, both amateur and professional http://www.rfuipf.org.uk/